{"id":2866,"date":"2025-03-12T10:20:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T10:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/annex62\/?page_id=2866"},"modified":"2025-09-12T14:35:51","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T14:35:51","slug":"ca001-ravens-crossing","status":"publish","type":"case_studies","link":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/case-studies\/ca001-ravens-crossing\/","title":{"rendered":"CA001 Ravens Crossing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \" style=\"font-size:25px\">How a Community Went All-Electric<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">September 2022: Ravens Crossing Cohousing is a recently completed, four-story residential development located in Sidney, BC. The complex contains 35 single-level units &#8211; all accessed from exterior walkways, a common space, and rooftop deck and garden. Built with sustainability in mind, Ravens Crossing achieved BUILT GREEN\u00ae Gold certification and was designed to be \u201chealthy and operationally cost-effective, as well as energy, water, and resource-efficient\u201d.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">The project launched in 2016 with a small group of like-minded individuals looking to create a community that supports connection. After visiting several cohousing communities, holding workshops, and hosting meetings, the Ravens (as they are now called) sharpened their vision \u201cto build a sustainable community of introverts and extroverts in all ages and stages of life who value privacy and connection within a simpler, healthier, and more energy-efficient environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">Environmental sustainability was a critical requirement for the planners as it was one of their core values. In a consensus-based planning approach, it was decided to try and reach ambitioned sustainabilty certificates (BUILT GREEN\u00ae Gold standard). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">To leave out fossil fuels and operate the building(s) entirely electric had two reasons: firstly, the emission of greenhouse gases stands in contrast to the planners values and secondly, the installation of gas lines was regared as a health and security issue. Even the private use of propane on the balconies is prohibited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"951\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-building.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-building.png 951w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-building-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-building-768x386.png 768w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-building-400x201.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 951px) 100vw, 951px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \"><strong>Lessons learned<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High performance windows as an envelope strategy can make heat recovery ventilators obsolete.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each occupant paying directly for their heating and cooling costs is likely to reduce future energy consumption but raised the construction costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even though the requirements were higher, constructions costs were comparable to other sites in the area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \"><strong>Key facts<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Building<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><td><strong>Heat Pump and Source<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Location<\/td><td><em>Sidney, Canada<\/em><\/td><td>Number of HP<\/td><td><em>35 for SH<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Construction<\/td><td><em>2018-2023<\/em><\/td><td>Operation mode<\/td><td><em>hybrid<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Heated area<\/td><td><em>3558 m\u00b2<\/em><\/td><td>Heat source<\/td><td><em> air<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>No. of apartments<\/td><td><em>35<\/em><\/td><td>Type of system<\/td><td><em>decentral<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Level of insulation<\/td><td><em>good<\/em><\/td><td>Model<\/td><td><em>Mitsubishi M-series<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Heating sytem<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><td><strong>Domestic Hot Water<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Thermal energy<br>demand intensity<\/td><td><em>52.6 kWh\/m2 per year<\/em><\/td><td>Additional heating<\/td><td><em>EL heaters for DHW<\/em><br><em>4 x 450l<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Other information<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Climate Zone<\/td><td><em>Csb<\/em><\/td><td>Cooling SEER<\/td><td><em>18<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Greenhouse gas<br>intenstity <\/td><td><em>1.2 kg CO2\/m2 per year<\/em><\/td><td>SH HSPF<\/td><td><em>12.6<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><td>Refrigerant <\/td><td><em>R32<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"container\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1021\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-scheme.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-scheme.png 1021w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-scheme-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-scheme-768x569.png 768w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-scheme-400x296.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \"><strong>Description of the technical concept<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">Ravens Crossing is a 3,558 m2 (38,284 sq.ft.) residential development with 35 units, including 300 m2 (3,200 sq.ft.) of common space, a shared rooftop deck and garden, and a parking garage. To reduce energy consumption, some reliable design strategies were employed. These included positioning the building to take advantage of southern exposure, designing the south elevation with a high window-to-wall ratio to maximize solar heat gain, and specifying high-performance, triple-paned windows. The windows are from Starline\u2019s 7100 series and the insulating glass units are filled with argon and include two low-emissivity coatings. The\u200b\u200b average fenestration U-factor is 1.05 W\/m2\u00b7K (0.18 Btu\/h\u00b7ft2\u00b7F). The walls are constructed using 38 mm x 140 mm (2\u201d x 6\u201d) wood framing with batt insulation in the cavities, resulting in an effective RSI value of 2.82 m2\u00b7K\/W (R-16).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"935\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-hps.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-hps.png 935w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-hps-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-hps-768x390.png 768w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001-hps-400x203.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 935px) 100vw, 935px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">Each unit has its own Mitsubishi M-series horizontal-ducted heat pump for heating and cooling. The decision to use high-efficiency heat pumps (cooling SEER of 18, and heating HSPF of 12.6 (Region IV)) was based on reducing operating costs (compared to using electric baseboard heaters), quiet operation and providing cooling in the summer. Six small electric baseboard heaters were installed for supplementary heating in some areas of the basement and some rooms within the common area. Domestic hot water is generated by four A.O. Smith 450 L (120 US gallon) industrial electric water heaters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">With an all-electric design, the Ravens were initially concerned about the impact of power outages. After conducting research on the outage history, they determined that power reliability in the region was high. Given the unlikely scenario of a power outage, the Ravens decided to forgo the installation of a back-up power generator. If a power outage were to occur, the building envelope is likely to maintain a relatively stable indoor temperature for an extended period of time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">Solar photovoltaic panels were initially considered to reduce operational costs and improve resilience to power outages, but to keep construction costs from escalating, they were not included in the project. Provisions in the electrical system and structural supports in the roof were added to facilitate the addition of solar panels in the future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \"><strong>Results:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">To ensure that the design would meet the standard\u2019s performance target, an energy model was prepared by AME Group based on construction drawings. It was later updated to reflect as-built conditions. The updated energy model showed that the building is likely to be approximately 23% more energy-efficient than if it was built to meet the minimum requirements of Canada\u2019s 2011 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB). This level of energy efficiency allowed it to exceed the requirements for BUILT GREEN\u00ae Gold.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">The modelled total energy use intensity (TEUI) for the building is 108.5 kWh\/m2 per year. Relative to the Energy Step Code, this TEUI meets Step 3 for large residential buildings in this climate zone. The thermal energy demand intensity (TEDI) for the building is 52.6 kWh\/m2 per year. Comparing it to the Energy Step Code, this is less than Step 2.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">The modelled greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) is 1.2 kg CO2\/m2 per year. What makes this GHGI especially impressive is that it was achieved by a building with moderate energy-efficiency measures. This result is a testament to the fact that the most effective path to deep and immediate operational emissions reductions is quite simple &#8211; build an all-electric building. As an aside, the GHGI for this building is low enough to meet the highest level of the Province\u2019s upcoming Carbon Pollution Standard for new buildings. If this building was located in the City of Vancouver, it would meet its future carbon emissions limit of 3 kg CO2\/m2 per year (effective July 1, 2023).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-b989473c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-50 has-custom-font-size is-style-outline has-medium-font-size is-style-outline--1\" style=\"text-transform:none\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-white-background-color has-text-color has-background has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2025\/03\/ca001fact-sheet-ravens-crossing.pdf\" style=\"border-radius:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"84\" class=\"wp-image-2196\" style=\"width: 300px;\" src=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2024\/02\/fact-sheet-button-pic.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2024\/02\/fact-sheet-button-pic.png 845w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2024\/02\/fact-sheet-button-pic-300x84.png 300w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2024\/02\/fact-sheet-button-pic-768x215.png 768w, https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/content\/uploads\/sites\/75\/2024\/02\/fact-sheet-button-pic-400x112.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph \"><strong>CA001 &#8211; Ravens Crossing<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"container container--no-margin\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph \">Case study delivered by: Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) <a href=\"https:\/\/b2electrification.org\/ravens-crossing-how-community-went-all-electric\">Ravens Crossing: How a Community Went All-Electric | B2E<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How a Community Went All-Electric September 2022: Ravens Crossing Cohousing is a recently completed, four-story residential development located in Sidney,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","filters":[],"markets":[17],"applications":[7,41],"class_list":["post-2866","case_studies","type-case_studies","status-publish","hentry","markets-canada","applications-buildings","applications-multi-family-buildings"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_studies\/2866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_studies"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case_studies"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_studies\/2866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2955,"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_studies\/2866\/revisions\/2955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"filters","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/filters?post=2866"},{"taxonomy":"markets","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/markets?post=2866"},{"taxonomy":"applications","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project62\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/applications?post=2866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}